Greenwich - achieving a lasting millennium legacy

In just ten years, the London Borough of Greenwich has turned itself from one of Britain's most derelict and impoverished urban areas to one of its most flourishing. The gradual disappearance of major riverside employers such as the Royal Arsenal and British Gas led to the loss of 150 000 jobs by the 1980s and a legacy of over 400 ha of derelict and contaminated land. This paper describes the circumstances which led to the formation of the Greenwich Waterfront Development Partnership in 1991, with aims of attracting flagship projects, creating greater accessibility, developing Greenwich peninsula and securing a lasting legacy for the people of Greenwich. The Dome, the Jubilee Line and the Millennium Village are just three examples of how effective the partnership has been.